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Japanese soaking tub question

14 years ago

I have a guest room/studio attached to my house where I am planning to install a small bathroom. This was originally going to be a standard sink/toilet/shower setup, and I really didn't want a bathtub in there, although there is probably room. Then I got thinking of having just a modest shower area, but also putting a Japanese soaking tub in the shower space so it could have both a shower and a tub function. Has anyone else tried this? If so, can you post pictures? Any observations on possible problems with this type of setup?

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Comments (8)

roobear
14 years ago
I think another member named Igloochic remodeled a bathroom with a Japanese tub. I'm not sure how often she checks the bathroom forum, I know she frequents the Home Decorating forum so you might ask this same question over there.
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kudzu9
Original Author
14 years ago
roobear-
Thanks. I found her email link and sent her a message.

Now...anyone else?
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I am putting one of the Japanese soaking tubs in my bathroom remodel. I don't like lying down in the tub. I have visited a few spas in California that have these soaking tubs set up. I found them very comfortable. Mine will share the shower area just like a traditional Japanese shower area. I am getting an acrylic tub probably from Hydrosystems (Fuji 40x40). My config will look something like this. Mine will not have steps as you will be able to sit on the ledge and swing your legs into the tub from the shower area. There was a gwebber that did a shower with the beverly from Americh. Good luck!
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(oops - hit 'post' too soon) I would most like to get one like I had when I lived in Japan, (solo use, square, acrylic(?)) but don't know how to try and manage that, nor whether the cost would be prohibitive. Do you know how to go about doing this, or finding out if it is feasible? I've found about 5 American manufacturers making deep/deepish soaking tubs. Not sure if I'd be comfortable in the seat/foot well versions, and don't know any way to find someone who has one I could try sitting in. No local showrooms seem to have any of these models, and unfortunately, a trip to Tubz in CA is not possible.
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I enjoyed sitting in a one on a holiday, it had a seat so you sat fully submerged rather than lounge. I did not enjoy climbing into or out of it though. The one I tried was a very deep circle and did have a grab bar to help and a small step up on the floor. I only just stopped changing diapers on the floor a few months ago so still pretty young and agile and I still found it hard to get in and out of. But once in it was very enjoyable.
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I have not seen one off the top of my head but try calling Central Plumbing ( multiple locations ) or Ferguson plumbing - they also have multiple showrooms. The other thing you can do is call the manufacturer - sometimes for something that specific they may know who is displaying it... Good luck!
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sweeby
14 years ago
I love Japanese soaking tubs --
But I wouldn't want to shower in one.
They're meant for nice long hot soaks...
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kudzu9
Original Author
14 years ago
sweeby-
I just figured I would combine the two in one space and have the option of either. But can you be more specific? What would be the problem with showering in one? I shower in regular bathtubs, and I also take showers in confined shower stalls. How would this be different?
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youngdeb
14 years ago
We have a japanese style tub (albeit a British-made one). It's way too deep to shower in...it would be kind of a nightmare to get in and out. The sides of the tub are much higher...they're shorter than lay-down tubs but have higher sides so you can soak sitting up. The Japanese shower before they get in the tub, you know...

When we were trying to figure out what to do about a small bathroom in another house, I was interested in the Duravit Seadream (I think that's the name, look it up on their site). You can fit it in a smaller space, but still have a tub/bath combo.
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writersblock (9b/10a)
14 years ago
Speaking of Duravit, I've always thought this was a very creative solution, starting with a standard issue condo bath:

{{gwi:1386181}}

You can read more about it at the link below.

Here is a link that might be useful: MiamiBeach's bathroom
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sweeby
14 years ago
"It's way too deep to shower in...it would be kind of a nightmare to get in and out. The sides of the tub are much higher..."

That's exactly what I was referring to Kudzu. In a 'regular' tub/shower, you step over the relatively low sides of the tub to step onto the shower floor. In a Japanese soaking tub, the 'getting in and out' dynamic is very different, and less convenient. Also, I think most ofuro tubs have built-in seats, reducing the floor area considerably. You might find yourself knocking your knees daily.
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peterludemann
4 years ago
" Also, I think most ofuro tubs have built-in seats, reducing the floor area considerably. "

A proper Japanese o-furo doesn't have a built-in seat ... that's an American "innovation".

You sit on the floor of the Japanese tub so that you can be completely immersed, over your shoulders. (Often the tub is short, so that you need to bend your knees; but it's not a big problem because you're almost weightless when immersed in water.)
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